Locker



M. S. HART June 4, 1929.

LOCKER Filed March 19, 1924 SECTION 3 3 Patented June 4, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE.

' MAXWELL S. HART, OF NEW BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE HART &

HUTCHINSON COMPANY, OF NEW BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

4 LOCKER.

Application filed March 19, 1924. Serial No. 700,256.

of floor space and at the same time having suflicient space for the proper storage 0 clothing.

One object of this invention is to provide a locker unit of the above nature in which one of the coat compartments may be locked simultaneously with one of the hat compartments.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device of the above nature in which both doors of the hat and coat compartments belonging to one individual will be locked by the operation of a single locking mechanism.

A further object is to provide a locker unit having a pair of relatively narrow coat compartments arranged side by side and associated with a. pair of relatively wide hat compartments.

A further object is to provide a locker unit having a pair of hat compartments arranged vertically above a pair of coat compartments so that all of the compartments will be in the most convenient and accessible positions. A further object is to provide a locker unitof the individual type having the minimum number of key-operated locking devices.

A further object is to provide a locker unit of the above nature in which each door is provided with a wedging flange adapted to be engaged by a diagonally slidable latching bar. j

A still further object is to provide a locker of the above nature which will be simple, inexpensive to manufacture, compact in size, and veryeflicient and durable in use.

With these and other objects in view, therev have been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, one form in which the invention ma be conveniently embodied in practice.

ig. 1 represents a perspective View of the preferred form of locker unit with the doors of one hat compartment and one coat compartment shown in open position.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the locker unit taken along the plane 22 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view, with parts broken away, of the locker unit taken along the plane 3-3 of Fig. 1 looking downwardlyin the direction of the arrows.

F1g. 4 1s a rear fragmentary perspective v ew of one of the key-operated locking dewoes and its associated cam member for engaging the sliding latching bar. I

The former type of individual clothing locker for use in clubs, factories, schools, etc., was usually rectangular in shape and had a shelf at the top, upon which the hat, lunch box, etc., of the lndividual were to be placed. The compartment below the shelf was used to receive his coat and other garments. Owing to the fact that a hanging coat or other garment generally occupies considerably less width of the locker than the users hat, lunch box, etc., it resulted that only a portion of the space in the coat compartment was utilized.

Attempts have been made to economize space in such locker systems by em loying two separate sets of lockers, the loc ers of one set being long and narrow to receive coats, and'the lockers of the other set being short and wide to receive hats, lunch boxes,

etc. Such systems were subject to the dis advantage that the two lockers for any one individual were often located far away from each other, making it inconvenient to use them simultaneously. A further disadvantage was that the user was required to operate two different locks to open the lockers.

By means of the present invention, the above and other disadvantages have been entirely avoided. This has been accomplished by providing a locker unit having a pair of long and narrow vertical coat compartments and. a pair of short and wide horizontal hat compartments arranged vertically above the pair of coat compartments, each of said compartments having its own separate door. A locking device is provided Within the space above the coat compartments and below the hat compartments for,

simultaneously locking one of the hat compartments and one of the coat compartments, said lockin device, however, bemg independent of and not connected to either of said doors.

Referring now to the drawlngs in which like reference numerals denote corresponding parts throughout the several views, the

preferred form of locker unit herein illustrated comprises side walls 10 and 11, front and rear walls 12 and 13, a top wall 14, and a bottom wall 15, the latter being in the form of an open grating to permit drainage from the bottom of the unit.

The space inside the locker unit is divided up into four compartments by means of two horizontal shelves 16 and 17 located near the top of the locker, and a vertical partition 18 located below the shelf 16, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

It will thus be seen that two horizontal upper compartments are provided between i 'the top wall 14 and the lower shelf 16 which extend the full width of the locker, and are designed to be used for receiving hats, luncheon boxes, and the like. These compartments will be hereinafter designated as the hat compartments. Below the hat compartments, tw'o relatively long and narrow coat compartments are provided, said coat compartments being separated by the vertical partition 18.

The rlght hand coat compartment and the lower hat compartment of the locker unit are adapted to be used by one individual, while the left hand coat compartment and the upper hat compartment are adapted to be used by a second individual, thereby accommodating two individuals in the one unit described. It is within the spirit of the invention, however, to reverse this arrangement, in which case, one individual would use the right hand coat com partment and the upper hat compartment, while the second individual would use the left hand coat compartment and thelower hat compartment.

The upper hat compartment is provided with a door 19 adapted to swing about a vertical axis on spring hinges 20, the springs of said hinges having a tendency to close said doors. The lower hat compartment is provided with a similar door 21 mounted upon spring hinges 22, but in this instance,

the hinges are located at the opposite side of the locker unit.

angle to form a wedge slot for a purpose to be hereinafter described; Suitable knobs 28 are provided to permit the doors to be conveniently manipulated.

Each pair of associated hat compartment and coat compartment doors is adapted to be latched by a common vertical sliding bar, said sliding bars being located along the left and right front edges of the locker unit respectively as viewed from the front. The right handsliding bar 29 extends substantially the full length of the ri ht hand coat compartment and the lower Iiat compartment. The sliding bar 30 is located at the left hand side of the locker unit and extends substantially the full length of the left hand coat compartment and both of the hat compartments.

Each of the sliding bars 29 and 30 is angle-shaped in cross section and has one of its sides arranged in. sliding-contact with the front wall of the locker, While the other side comprises a projecting rib extending inwardly at right angles thereto. The bars 29 and 30 are provided with inclined slots 31 and 32 respectively, adapted to fit over pins 33 and 34 respectively, said pins being secured rigidly to the front wall of the locker unit. By means of this construction,

it will be seen that the sliding bars can move only in a lateral diagonal direction. In latching position, the ribs of the sliding bars are adapted to engage the front of the diverging edges 27 of the locking flanges 26 on the doors to lock the same firmly in position. In unlatched position, the sliding bars 29 anl 30 will be retracted outwardly behind the edges of the door frames, thereby allowing the full Width of the door openings to remain unobstructed.

In order to permit the doors to be unlatched when it. is desired to use the locker compartments, a pair of rotary cam members 35 and 36 are provided at a point immediately below the lower shelf 16. The cam members 35 and 36 have arms 37 projecting through out out portions 38 and 39 respectively in the sliding bars 29 and 30.

N otches 40 are formed in said cam members to cause said arms to more positively engage the edge of the adjacent sliding bars through which they extend. The cam members are preferably secured to suitable shafts extending through the front wall of the locker unit and having operating handles 41 secured thereto.

Each of the cam members 35 and 36 is provided at a point opposite the arm 37 with an upstanding lug 42 which is adapted to be engaged by a bolt 43 of a key-operated locking mechanism 4'4 to lock the latching cam member so that it cannot be rotated and the doors cannot be opened.

In operation, when the individual is through using the locker unit, he will release the hat compartment door, which will then close automatically under the influence of theflsprings of the hinges. He will then close the coat compartment door. The handle 41 will then be turned and the rojecting arm 37 will then cause the sliding bar to move laterally inward to the latched position behind the flanges 27 on-the doors, as clearly shown at the right of Fig. 2.

In order to lock the doors in this closed position, the operator will then insert a suitable key into the keyhole of the proper keyoperated member, forcing the bolt 43 outwardly into locked position, as shown at the right in Fi 2. It will then be impossible to open eit er of the associated hat compartment or coat compartment doors, on account of the engagement of the upstanding lug 42 on the cam member with the bolt 43. While a dead-bolt locking'mechanism has been disclosed herein, it will be understood -that spring bolt locks or any other type of locking mechanism may be substituted, within the spirit of this invention.

In the bottom of eachcoat com artment a drip pan 45 is provided, said having inclined sides and being adapted to receive drippings from umbrellas, wet clothing or other articles which may be located therein.

One advantage of this invention is that by reason of the wedge action of the door flange and latching bars, all rattling noises due to vibration in the building where the locker is located will be eliminated.

Another advantage is that the latching bars may be forced into latched position by the positive action of the handles without relying upon the action of ravity.

While there has been disclosed in this specification one form in which the invention may/be embodied it is to be understood .that this form is shown for the purpose of illustration only, and that the invention is not to be limited to the specific disclosure but may be modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit. In short, the invention includes all the modifications and embodiments coming within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new, and for which it is desired to secure Letters Patent is:

1. In a locker unit, a pair of vertical coat compartments arranged side by side, a pair of horizontal hat compartments arranged above said coat compartments, separate doors for closing each of said compartments, each door having a Z-shaped flange secured thereto adjacent its edge, the free edge of said flange diverging outwardly to form a wedge slot, a latching bar mounted to slide diagonally u on the front wall of said locker unit, means or sliding said latching bar behind said flanges into said wedge slots for rip pan the loclier unit mounted to slide laterally behind said flanges to simultaneously lock said doors in closed position, a rotary cam member having an arm engaging sai sliding bar, a handle for operating said cam member to force said bar laterally, and keyoperated means for locking said cam'member, sliding bar and doors in closed position.

3. In a locker unit, a coat compartment, a hat compartment above said coat compart ment, doors for closing said compartments, each of said doors having a flange adjacent its free edge, a bar on the front wall of the locker unit mounted to slide laterally behind said flange parallelto said doors" to simultaneously lock said doors, an inclined slot in said bar, apin on said front wall fitting in said slot, manually operated means for exerting a lateral force on said sliding bar diagonal direction.

4. In a locker unit, a coat compartment, a hat compartment above said coat compartment, doors for closing said compartments, each of said doors having a flange along its free edge, the free edge of said flange diverging outwardly to form a wedge slot, a sliding bar on the front wall of the locker unit mounted to slide laterally behind said flanges to simultaneously lock said doors in closed position, a rotary cam member having an arm engaging said sliding bar, ahandle for operating said cam member to force said bar laterally, and key-operated means ior locking said cam member, sliding bar and doors in closed position.

5. In a locker, a coat compartment, a hat compartment vertically spaced therefrom, doors for closing said compartments, a unitary Vertical latching bar adjacent the free vertical edges of said doors, and diagonally slidable in a plane parallel to said doors when the doors are closed, angular flanges on said doors adapted to be engaged by said latching bar whereby said doors will be held in closed position, and means for locking said latching bar in closed position.

6. In a locker, a pair of vertical coat compartments, a pair of horizontal hat compartments arranged above said coat compartments, separate doors for closing each of said compartments, a latching bar located adjacent the free vertical edges of the doors of one hat compartment and one coat compartment, and laterally slidable in a plane parallel to said door when the door is closed, angular flanges on the doors of said hat compartment and coat compartment adapted to be engaged vby said latching bar whereby said doors will be held in 'closed position,

and means for locking said latching bar in v a vertical bar adjacent the free vertical edges of the doors, and slidable parallel to said doors and transversely thereof, angular flanges on said doors'to be engaged by said sliding bar whereby said doors will beheld shut, and means for locking said sliding bar in closed position.

8. In a locker unit, a coat compartment, a hat-compartment above said coat compartment, doors for closing said compartments, a vertical bar mounted on the front of said locker unit, and slidable parallel to said doors and transversely thereof, alined flanges on said doors to be engaged b said sliding bar whereby said doors will e held shut, and means for locking said sliding bar'in shut position.

9. In a locker unit, a coat compartment,

a hat compartment above said coat compartment, doors for closing said compartments,

each of said doors havin an angular flange MAXWELL S. HART. 

